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Kat fight: Katich faces fine, suspension for attack on Clarke

Chloe Saltau

In happier times ... Simon Katich and Michael Clarke played together for NSW and Australia. Photo: Getty Images

Simon Katich has been hauled before a Cricket Australia disciplinary hearing, and faces suspension and a fine of up to $5750, for suggesting Michael Clarke was behind his dumping from the Test team.

Katich has been reported under the Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour provisions relating to Detrimental Public Comment after he said on Friday that he would not be picked for Australia while Clarke was captain, tracing his axing from the national contract list to a dressing room argument between the pair in 2009.

If he is found guilty, he could be banned from state games for NSW.

Run machine ... Simon Katich raises his bat after scoring a century against Victoria at the SCG yesterday. Photo: Getty Images

CA chief executive James Sutherland has disputed that Katich's soured relationship with Clarke was played a part in his dismissal.

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"CA emphatically refutes any suggestion that Michael Clarke influenced the independent selection panel's recommendations for the 2011-12 CA contract players' list, a list that did not include Katich," Sutherland said in a statement.

"The NSP made its recommendations based on its independent assessment of Australian cricket's player needs for the next 12 months and the suggestions made by Katich are completely erroneous, inappropriate and unfair to Clarke, the selectors and to CA.

"Without compromising my confidential understanding of the selectors' confidential thinking, I can state their recommendations were completely independent of outside influence.

"I was particularly disappointed at the comments yesterday after the discussions we had with Katich in mid-2011 on inappropriate public comments he had made then."

Katich's remarks followed the appointment of a new full-time national selector, John Inverarity, who had suggested the door was not closed on selection for the 36-year-old opening batsman.

Katich claimed no one from Cricket Australia had been in touch with him since his dumping, and said: "You don't have to be Einstein to figure out that it's not just the seletors who had a part in sending me on my way. To be brutally honest, what happened in the dressing room a few years ago didn't help my cause."

From South Africa, after Australia completed a one-day series win over the Proteas, Clarke said Katich had not done himself any favours with his remarks and denied he played a part in Katich's demise.

"When Simon wasn't selected I wasn't a selector at the time. Since becoming a selector I've made it clear in plenty of press conferences that I've done that the door certainly isn't closed on anyone," Clarke said.

"In saying that, I don't think his comments are certainly helping him get back into this team at the moment. Team morale is such an important part of having success. It's been a great thing for the Australian team in all forms of the game of late. I think the team morale is outstanding and we're enjoying seeing a bit of success as well."

Sutherland said Katich had been contacted by his deputy Michael Brown and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch after he was dropped.